Re: Aptness of DKIM for MLs

Douglas Otis <[email protected]> Thu, 5 Jun 2014 11:34:06 -0700
Newsgroups gmane.ietf.rfc822
Message-ID <[email protected]>
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On May 9, 2014, at 3:23 AM, Alessandro Vesely <[email protected]> wrote:

> Hi SM,
>=20
> On Thu 08/May/2014 19:59:19 +0200 S Moonesamy wrote:
>> At 03:06 07-05-2014, Alessandro Vesely wrote:
>>> to "standardize" its syntax.[3]  It seems to me that eliminating =
some
>>> of such gratuitous changes is the solution to DMARC-for-MLs which
>>> minimizes the alterations in MLM software.  Are you sure it won't
>>> work?
>>=20
>> This mailing list breaks the DKIM Signature.
>=20
> No, it doesn't.  It broke elandsys' signature, but check tana's
> signature on this message.  (I send this to ietf-822 only, to avoid
> any confusion.)
>=20
> So it seems I could publish a strict DMARC policy right now, and cause
> minimal disruptions.  However, some verifiers (NetEase) consider
> tana's h=3D inadequate, see "objection" below.
>=20
>> Gratuitous changes to a mailing list message is a matter of
>> opinion.
>=20
> Well, not exactly.
>=20
> For corrections, section 6.4 of RFC 5321 is rather clear that
> submission servers MAY, while intermediate relays MUST NOT, apply
> certain changes.  So the range where opinions may vary is whether an
> MLM is to be considered akin to submission servers or relays.
>=20
> By /gratuitous/ changes, such as adding/removing double quote marks, I
> mean unnecessary embellishments that were already disputable before
> DKIM took root.
>=20
>> I suggest reading the past discussions first if you are interested
>> in trying to make it work.
>=20
> Yes, much of this discussion was recited at the time of ADSP, for
> example http://mipassoc.org/pipermail/ietf-dkim/2010q3/013829.html
>=20
> The most relevant objection to weak signatures is why would domains so
> concerned about security as to publish a strong policy weaken their
> DKIM signatures?  A solution is to do so for ML messages only.
>=20
> To recap, assume a domain has a DB of (user, mailing list) pairs which
> defines ML traffic.  Messages to ML are then sent in separate SMTP
> transactions and weakly signed.  MLMs sign those messages in turn,
> using strong signatures.  Verifiers derive the validity of MLM domains
> by comparing d=3D against To: or Cc: mailboxes.
>=20
> Besides minor refinements, the major bar is to build that DB.  I
> proposed to do it manually for starting, and then find out how to
> automate its maintenance.

Dear Alessandro,

How can sending domains select the signature scheme?  For example, often =
there are other destinations cc'd.  Conveying an alignment exception =
method to all parties is the intent behind TPA-Labels.  This avoids the =
need to apply weak signatures that can be maliciously replayed.  After =
all, DKIM does not constrain possible recipients.  Good mailing lists =
are fairly keen at confirming subscriptions and do not represent a =
source of abuse.  If a spear-phishing problem is confronted, =
authorizations could require an ORA header be added. An easy feature to =
add to this scheme.

Regards,
Douglas Otis

=20=

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<html><head><meta http-equiv=3D"Content-Type" content=3D"text/html =
charset=3Dus-ascii"></head><body style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; =
-webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: =
after-white-space;"><br><div><div>On May 9, 2014, at 3:23 AM, Alessandro =
Vesely &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a>&gt; =
wrote:</div><br class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote =
type=3D"cite">Hi SM,<br><br>On Thu 08/May/2014 19:59:19 +0200 S =
Moonesamy wrote:<br><blockquote type=3D"cite">At 03:06 07-05-2014, =
Alessandro Vesely wrote:<br><blockquote type=3D"cite">to "standardize" =
its syntax.[3] &nbsp;It seems to me that eliminating some<br>of such =
gratuitous changes is the solution to DMARC-for-MLs which<br>minimizes =
the alterations in MLM software. &nbsp;Are you sure it =
won't<br>work?<br></blockquote><br>This mailing list breaks the DKIM =
Signature.<br></blockquote><br>No, it doesn't. &nbsp;It broke elandsys' =
signature, but check tana's<br>signature on this message. &nbsp;(I send =
this to ietf-822 only, to avoid<br>any confusion.)<br><br>So it seems I =
could publish a strict DMARC policy right now, and cause<br>minimal =
disruptions. &nbsp;However, some verifiers (NetEase) consider<br>tana's =
h=3D inadequate, see "objection" below.<br><br><blockquote =
type=3D"cite">Gratuitous changes to a mailing list message is a matter =
of<br>opinion.<br></blockquote><br>Well, not exactly.<br><br>For =
corrections, section 6.4 of RFC 5321 is rather clear that<br>submission =
servers MAY, while intermediate relays MUST NOT, apply<br>certain =
changes. &nbsp;So the range where opinions may vary is whether an<br>MLM =
is to be considered akin to submission servers or relays.<br><br>By =
/gratuitous/ changes, such as adding/removing double quote marks, =
I<br>mean unnecessary embellishments that were already disputable =
before<br>DKIM took root.<br><br><blockquote type=3D"cite">I suggest =
reading the past discussions first if you are interested<br>in trying to =
make it work.<br></blockquote><br>Yes, much of this discussion was =
recited at the time of ADSP, for<br>example <a =
href=3D"http://mipassoc.org/pipermail/ietf-dkim/2010q3/013829.html">http:/=
/mipassoc.org/pipermail/ietf-dkim/2010q3/013829.html</a><br><br>The most =
relevant objection to weak signatures is why would domains =
so<br>concerned about security as to publish a strong policy weaken =
their<br>DKIM signatures? &nbsp;A solution is to do so for ML messages =
only.<br><br>To recap, assume a domain has a DB of (user, mailing list) =
pairs which<br>defines ML traffic. &nbsp;Messages to ML are then sent in =
separate SMTP<br>transactions and weakly signed. &nbsp;MLMs sign those =
messages in turn,<br>using strong signatures. &nbsp;Verifiers derive the =
validity of MLM domains<br>by comparing d=3D against To: or Cc: =
mailboxes.<br><br>Besides minor refinements, the major bar is to build =
that DB. &nbsp;I<br>proposed to do it manually for starting, and then =
find out how to<br>automate its =
maintenance.<br></blockquote></div><br><div>Dear =
Alessandro,</div><div><br></div><div>How can sending domains select the =
signature scheme? &nbsp;For example, often there are other destinations =
cc'd. &nbsp;Conveying an alignment exception method to all parties is =
the intent behind&nbsp;<a =
href=3D"http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-otis-tpa-label">TPA-Labels</a>. =
&nbsp;This avoids the need to apply weak signatures that can be =
maliciously replayed. &nbsp;After all, DKIM does not constrain possible =
recipients. &nbsp;Good mailing lists are fairly keen at confirming =
subscriptions and do not represent a source of abuse. &nbsp;If a =
spear-phishing problem is confronted, authorizations could require an =
ORA header be added. An easy feature to add to this =
scheme.</div><div><br></div><div>Regards,</div><div>Douglas =
Otis</div><div><br></div><div>&nbsp;</div></body></html>=

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